Articles on motivation and on how to get motivated.

Motivation is the power that activates the engine of success, and moves you to act and do things.

Motivation and How to Get MotivatedHow many times have you started enthusiastically a weight loss program, began a bodybuilding or aerobics training program, or started learning a foreign language, only to stop after a short while?...

How to Keep Motivated and EnthusiasticDo you sometimes feel enthusiastic, motivated and energetic when starting something new, but after some time lose your enthusiasm and interest? This can happen when...

What Is Motivation and How to Strengthen ItMotivation is the inner power or energy that pushes toward acting, performing actions and achieving. Motivation has much to do with desire and ambition, and if they are absent, motivation is absent too...

How to Improve Your Life in 12 StepsHow many times have you told yourself that you are going to improve your life, but ended doing nothing? How many times have been dissatisfied with some aspects of your life and vowed to change them...

Lack of Motivation & EnthusiasmLack of motivation and lack of enthusiasm are two of the main reasons for failure and of living a mediocre life. People lacking in motivation and enthusiasm are usually passive, blame everything and everyone...

Starting a Project Enthusiastically, but Losing EnthusiasmDo you start a project enthusiastically, but lose your enthusiasm after a few days? This is something that happens to everyone, and could be quite frustrating...

What Are You Waiting For? Improvement Starts NowWhat are you waiting for? Do you want to make changes in your life? Do you constantly tell yourself that if things were different, you could do this and that?...

Dare, Don't Be Afraid to Make MistakesDon't worry if you make mistakes. Only people who dare, try, and persevere, complete tasks and achieve success. It is so comfortable to be passive, make no effort, and stick to the familiar...

Visit our blog to read more articles about Motivation.

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Articles About Motivation - Success Consciousness

By Dr. Mercola

Most people want to live a long, healthy life. If that's something you aspire to, you'd be well advised to keep a careful eye on your insulin sensitivity. It is perhaps one of the best markers for limiting your risk for degenerative diseases that will take you out prematurely.

The reason for this is because insulin resistance lays the foundation for virtually all chronic disease, as it promotes chronic inflammation and speeds up your body's aging processes.

A recent study1,2 looking at extreme longevity confirms this view, concluding that having very low levels of inflammation in your body is the most potent predictor for living beyond 100 years of age.

Inflammation levels also corresponded to people's ability to live independently and maintain cognitive function throughout their life.

Chronic inflammation can be the result of a malfunctioning, over-reactive immune system, or it may be due to an underlying problem that your body is attempting to fight off.

But many of these "problems" are actually rooted in an unhealthy (inflammatory) diet and lack of exercise.

In contrast to acute inflammation, chronic inflammation typically will not produce symptoms until actual loss of function occurs somewhere. This is because chronic inflammation is low-grade and systemic, often silently damaging your tissues over an extended period of time.

This process can go on for years without you noticing, until a disease suddenly sets in. Since chronic inflammation tends to be "silent," how can you determine if inflammation is brewing in your body?

Clinical tests used in allopathic medicine include:

But you can also use your fasting blood insulin level to gauge inflammation. Although this test is typically used to screen for diabetes, it's also a marker for inflammation.

Typically the higher your fasting insulin levels are, the higher your levels of inflammation tend to be. Clinically, I have found this test far more useful than the other markers for inflammation.

Avoiding processed foods, which are high in inflammatory ingredients such as refined sugars and processed fats like trans fats and vegetable oils as the video above discusses, and getting regular movement and exercise are two of the most potent ways to help normalize your insulin levels and avoid insulin resistance.

Diet accounts for about 80 percent of the health benefits you reap from a healthy lifestyle, and keeping inflammation in check is a major part of these benefits. It's important to realize that dietary components can either trigger or prevent inflammation from taking root in your body.

If you have not already addressed your diet, this would be the best place to start, regardless of whether you're experiencing symptoms of chronic inflammation or not.

To help you get started, I suggest following my free Optimized Nutrition Plan, which starts at the beginner phase and systematically guides you step-by-step to the advanced level.

But diet is not the only component that will have a profound impact on your health and longevity. It's really about addressing your total lifestyle, and physical activity is a major component of that.

When you think of "physical activity" you may automatically think of a regimented fitness routine going to the gym several times a week, for example. But while that is certainly part of a healthy lifestyle, what you do outside the gym plays an equally important role.

The average American adult spends about 10 hours each day sitting, and research shows that this level of inactivity cannot even be counteracted with a 60-minute workout at the end of each day. My personal experience confirms this. It's really important to realize that you simply cannot offset 10 hours of stillness with one hour of exercise. You need near-continuous movement throughout the day. At the bare minimum, you need to get out of your chair every 50 minutes or so.

While a brief period of sitting here and there is natural, long periods of sitting day-in and day-out can seriously impact your health and shorten your life. For me, sitting and getting up every 10 minutes failed miserably. The only thing that worked was to restrict my sitting to under one hour a day.

In fact, the evidence suggests chronic sitting is an independent risk factor for insulin resistance and an early death even if you eat right, exercise regularly and are very fit; even a professional or Olympic level athlete. For example, research3 has shown that sitting for more than eight hours a day raises your risk for type 2 diabetes by 90 percent!

So, to lay the groundwork for overall health and longevity, I recommend avoiding sitting as much as possible, ideally striving to sit for less than three hours a day. A stand-up desk is a great option if you have an office job.

The second step is to simply walk more. I recommend aiming for 7,000 to10,000 steps a day. Use a fitness tracker to make sure you're meeting your goal. Next, you'll want to incorporate a more regimented fitness routine, and while virtually any exercise is better than none, high intensity exercises are the most potent.

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High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is one of the most effective and efficient ways to capture and maximize the benefits exercise has to offer. It also offers anti-inflammatory benefits that you cannot tap with milder, less strenuous exercise.

Some of the latest research into the benefits of HIIT involves myokines, a class of cell-signaling proteins produced by muscle fibers that offer potent protection against metabolic syndrome a cluster of conditions, including high blood sugar, that raises your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

High intensity training effectively stimulates your muscles to release these anti-inflammatory myokines, which increase your insulin sensitivity and glucose use inside your muscles. They also increase liberation of fat from adipose cells, and the burning of the fat within the skeletal muscle. Acting as chemical messengers, myokines also inhibit the release and the effect of inflammatory cytokines produced by body fat.

Now, it's important to realize that your diet can sabotage these beneficial effects. By eating inflammatory foods, such as sugar/fructose, refined grains, trans fats, and processed foods in general, your body will generate inflammatory cytokines. And, unfortunately, you simply cannot exercise your way out of a bad diet. No amount of exercise will successfully create enough myokines to outcompete the inflammatory cytokines produced by an unhealthy diet...

A frequent question that comes up with regards to high intensity exercise is the differences between the high-intensity cardio that you can do on an exercise bike or elliptical machine, versus high intensity strength training, using weights. Either strategy will give you the general benefits of HIIT, which includes cardiovascular fitness, improved muscle growth and strength, and the generation of "anti-aging" human growth hormone (HGH), also referred to as "the fitness hormone."

However, high intensity strength training has the added benefit of inducing a rapid and deep level of muscle fatigue. This triggers the synthesis of more contractile tissue, and all the metabolic components to support it including more anti-inflammatory myokines. So if you aim to address chronic inflammation in your body, high-intensity weight training may offer additional benefits over other forms of HIIT training.

The fact that exercise can reduce inflammation may be confusing in light of the fact that it also increases inflammation... Mark Sisson addressed this seeming contradiction in a previous blog post,4 noting that "depending on the context, this increased inflammation due to exercise is either a good thing or a bad thing."

The key difference is that while bouts of exercise tend to promote acute inflammation, when done regularly over the long term, it decreases chronic or systemic inflammation. The oxidative stress from the exercise forces your body to build up your antioxidant defenses. This is indicated in studies showing extended exercise programs help reduce inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein.

That said, acute inflammation can become chronic, so part of the equation involves exercising in such a way as to avoid turning those acute bouts of inflammation into a chronic one. I've often stressed the importance of recovery especially when doing HIIT and this is precisely why. If you over-train, you typically wind up end up doing more harm than good, as your body needs to recuperate from the damage (inflammation) incurred during your workout.

As Mark explains in his article:

"An effective training session is basically an acute stressor that initiates a transitory, temporary, but powerful inflammatory response. An effective training regimen is composed, then, of lots of those acutely stressful training sessions interspersed with plenty of recovery time against a backdrop of lots of slow moving and good nutrition.

Avoid inflammatory plateaus. Track your training. Plotted on a graph, the inflammatory responses to your training should resemble a series of peaks, dips, and valleys. If you don't let your last exercise-induced inflammatory spike recede before exercising again, you'll only heap more on the pile.

If you keep stringing together spikes in inflammation without recovering from the previous one, they start to overlap and that starts to look a lot like chronic inflammation. That gives you a plateau, a mesa of inflammation. Avoid the mesa."

Your diet will also wield a significant influence over the level of inflammation in your body, as most food will either promote or deflect it. Recent research5 also shows that both deficiencies and excesses of certain micronutrients (such as folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and zinc) can result in an ineffective or excessive inflammatory response.

As noted by co-author Anne Marie Minihane:6

"Studies have showed that high consumption of fat and glucose may induce post-prandial inflammation (manifesting itself after the consumption of a meal), which may have consequences for the development of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The Western-style diet, rich in fat and simple sugars but often poor in specific micronutrients, is linked to the increased prevalence of diseases with strong immunological and autoimmune components, including allergies, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, and obesity.

Inflammation acts as both a friend and foe, being essential in metabolic regulation, with unresolved low-grade chronic inflammation being a pathological feature of a wide range of chronic conditions including the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases."

The easiest way to ensure your diet is as anti-inflammatory as possible is to simply eat REAL FOOD. You really do not need a PhD in nutrition to get it right. To help you get started on a healthier diet, I suggest following my free Optimized Nutrition Plan, which starts at the beginner phase and systematically guides you step-by-step to the advanced level. It is especially important to avoid processed vegetable oils and sugars. Personally I believe the oils are far more toxic than the sugars. You simply must have a regular source of high quality unprocessed fats if you hope to be healthy.

Beyond that, it's simply a matter of learning which foods tend to provide the greatest anti-inflammatory benefits. I've provided a sample list of such foods below. By replacing processed foods with whole, unprocessed, and ideally organic foods, you will automatically eliminate several of the most inflammatory culprits in your diet, including:

A number of foods are well-known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and making sure you're eating a wide variety of them on a regular basis can go a long way toward preventing chronic illness. The following foods and nutrients deserve special mention for their ability to quell inflammatory responses in your body:

Tulsi is another tea loaded with anti-inflammatory antioxidants and other micronutrients that support immune function and heart health.

Fermented foods such as kefir, natto, kimchee, miso, tempeh, pickles, sauerkraut, olives, and other fermented vegetables, will help "reseed" your gut with beneficial bacteria.

Fermented foods can also help your body rid itself of harmful toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides that promote inflammation.

One is copper, which is one of the few metallic elements accompanied by amino and fatty acids that are essential to human health. Since your body can't synthesize copper, your diet must supply it regularly. Copper deficiency can be a factor in the development of coronary heart disease.

It's thought that much of garlic's therapeutic effect comes from its sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin. Research9 has revealed that as allicin digests in your body it produces sulfenic acid, a compound that reacts faster with dangerous free radicals than any other known compound.

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Exercise and Anti Inflammation Diet to Live Longer

Hey! Quick note- this post was original 4 different blogposts & videos, and Ive compiled them into 1 comprehensive resource so you dont have to keep clicking around. So you will find part 2 video at the top, but part 1, 3, and 4 VIDEOS are all further down for you here in this one blogpost.

Ive been getting this question a lot, should I exercise on the HCG Diet? And its a good one to talk about because whether you personally exercise on hCG could bring you even better results, or could cause you to totally give up.

So, lets get to the meat of this info on the whole Exercising + hCG Diet plan idea how can you tell if its a good combo for you? Whats important to note here, as with so many things in life, is that what will work well for one person, may not work at all for another. We are not all the same (as some other articles on the net will lead you to believe) we are so unique and the state of health we are in could be very different from the person sitting next to us.

Basically I think it comes down to this-

It appears that some people really can exercise on this diet plan and do quite well. If your body is in sound enough health to handle it, meaning, youre overweight but thats really all thats wrong with you, exercising while on HCG Injections can actually be better for you than just the diet alone- it can help preserve more lean muscle, if not increase it (the latter part more if youre a guy). In general there is very little lean muscle loss anyway, but exercising could eliminate even the small amount that happens.

One little word of caution though- you could also potentially cause excess muscle loss by exercising too much when you dont have enough calorie or protein intake to rebuild torn muscles.so keep that in mind. If you do exercise, you will likely want to add in a 3rd protein serving like a protein shake (sugar free, low carb, obviously), unless its something super chill like walking.

Aside from this, exercise may increase your feeling of well-being while on the hCG program as well.

If you choose to do this, do keep a few things in mind so you wont inadvertently get discouraged okay?

You might experience some water retention from the exercise, which may translate into what appears to be slower losses on the scale or more frequent zeros or gains- just keep in mind that your actual fat loss is not really being affected here. Please, if you are exercising and losing hardly anything on this diet and feeling crappy, do not email me asking if the hormone is bad okay?

Ive seen it recommended and it really seems to make sense, that if you do choose to exercise while on this protocol, you may need to increase your calorie intake a little bit. Think an extra protein portion either in the morning, or before or after your workout. Some ideas might be some egg whites, or perhaps whey protein powder. I cant exactly how much extra calories you might need, but Im guessing somewhere between 100-250 extra calories over the 500 may be in order, depending on the length and intensity of your workout.

While you may be able to continue your previous workout program on hCG, you may find that you still have to turn down the intensity of it. In fact, one woman on this hCG forum thread put it nicely- she said, Its that your body has no sugar to work out and the using of the fat for fuel is not as immediate. Before this protocol, for example, I could do 35 min on the EFX machine with no problem. Today I did only 7. Its still a benefit to me. I feel better, and I still get the endorphins.

So she didnt really lose actual strength in her workouts- it was temporary while being on the protocol, but for her, even doing the little exercise she could manage was beneficial and worth it to her.

A lot of emphasis is placed on drinking a lot of water on the diet protocol, but you can actually drink too much water believe it or not, and you can seriously screw up your electrolyte balance if youre exercising, drinking tons of water, and not replacing lost electrolytes.

A simple way to keep your electrolytes in balance while sticking to the protocol is just to add a little fresh squeezed lemon or orange and a dash of salt to a glass or two of your water.

Mathematically speaking, it sure seems like it should right??

Like okay, my resting metabolic rate (RMR what it takes to keep me alive and kicking minus my daily activities) is say 1400 calories or something. I walk around and feed my dog and have a pillow fight with my kids and feel emotionally disturbed when they start fighting. All this burns calories. I load the dishwasher and do late night studying for the one of six classes online college classes I have left to get my business degree on the side. So lets say now were at like 1900 calories. I exercise my little butt off to burn 600 calories on some elliptical or spin class or something. Now were at 2,300 calories used for the day. Now I eat only 500 calories on hCG that day. That SHOULD mean that I have a deficit of 1800 calories right? So I SHOULD lose about a 1/2 lb of actual fat right? (they say 1 lb of fat is about 3500 calories, although even this isnt completely a sure thing) And if I did this exact same thing every single day, then I SHOULD lose another half pound of fat every single day on the diet then right?

But in reality, our bodies dont seem to understand math so thats just not how it goes. Our bodies are more interested in homeostasis (keeping things balanced and the same) than in math. So our bodies will adapt and adjust hormones levels and activity and such to make our bodies more comfortable with what were doing to it so there isnt TOO much drastic change that it cant handle going on.

All this is to say sometimes you may lose more weight by employing exercise on hCG, but in many cases you will not, and in some cases you will actually lose less (as we discussed above). This is not necessarily a bad thing, its just important to know WHAT IS. So youre not surprised or frustrated.

And again, I know Im always hammering on balance and listening to your body, but its because its true! So often we find something seems to be okay when in reality we are only getting away with it for awhile, and pretty soon our body starts to let us know that what were doing is actually not cool. I have seen several cases where initially a person was exercising on hCG no problem and seemed to feel healthy and fine and energetic, but then a few months later I get emails saying they are really run down and gaining weight and feel horrible. I feel this is likely overdoing it catching up with them. Ive totally been guilty of this too, so Im not putting shame and blame Im sharing these stories to hopefully spare you.

Here are some great forum threads regarding the Protocol and Exercise I found useful (hearing the experiences of others is always helpful to me). The individuals who gave their input on these threads were running, jogging, lifting weights, doing workout videos and programs at home or in the gym, doing pilates, etc- theres a wide variety of perspectives.

hCG and Intense Exercise/Crossfit- hCGDietInfo Thread

hCG and Exercise- LowCarbFriends Forum Thread

hCG and Exercising Successfully hCGDietInfo forum thread

Eating Extra When Exercising with hCG- hCGDietInfo forum thread

Extra Calories with Exercise and hCG- hCGDietInfo forum thread

And here are some testimonials from people with personal experience with exercising while on the hCG diet:

Exercise causes stress to your body that results in elevated cortisol levels. Muscles will retain water. I couldnt exercise on Phase 2 since it would cause a stall every time. We are not eating enough protein for the exercise.

I didnt work out during my first round of P2, but I am working out on this one and have had really good losses. I do about a mile on a treadmill and 3-5 miles on a stationary bike everyday. I also do 30 minutes of pilates twice a week to tone as much as possible. Ive only had one stall this round, after that first 10 pounds like my first round. My losses have been so much better this time around also. I lost 23 pounds during my first round of 40 days and Im nearly there now.

If you do any heavy exercise (Break a sweat) the weight loss can slow down and even stop. You want to leave boot camp until you have finished. The HCG diet will make you lose weight about 4-5 times fasterTrust me! I have done both.

When I started the hCG shotsI ate about double the suggested amount i.e. instead of 500 calories I ate roughly 1000 calories per day but like you, I did it with physical activity. I also cut out most of the simple carbs and I saw good results and had the energy I needed to get through my workout.

Bikram yoga really was sort of a neutral activity for me during P2, I lost while doing it but only slightly and did have many days of stalls. It does make you hungrier and does make you drink a lot of water. I would reserve doing Bikram for P3 when you can actually sit down, enjoy it and have coconut water or whatever after. I think its far too strenuous during P2 and again, I think it prohibits your body from really enjoying the max benefits of doing it.

I havent been doing too well with exercising during the HCG, I dont feel weak, but I do feel more hungry and since I read that you can consume a few more calories and extra protein when working out I seem to use it as an excuse to eat more even though I dont feel weak just more hungry. I am supposed to be at my power pilates class as I type but I think I may chill out and see how 500 cals without exercise works out for me.

Im actually starting to run again and have been simply increasing my calories. I add another 100 g protein as well as eat the second apple and perhaps some more breadsticks about every 2-3 days. So far I havent felt fatigued by exercising and bumping up my intake slightly to compensate. BUT, I realize Im experimenting so it will be interesting to see what my fat-muscle ratio test shows at the end of the month!

I have just started the HCG diet and losing a little over 1 lb a day, but I am exercising, riding my bike to burn about 100 calories and doing sit ups, weights and resistance type exercise. weights every other day and the bike every day, I am losing steadily, I was told to eat a fruit before exercise and a protein or protein shake after in addition to the 500 calories and I am losing steadily. just dont do too much strenuous exercise, if you do you need to eat just a little more.

I am on day 8 (R2P2D8), I am a personal trainer and yoga teacher. Last night I worked out to the max both sessions with my clients. Today, I am super tired and did not lose. I feel like I got hit by a bus. I am not doing that again. Stick to moderate walking. It worked for me on round 1!

A few weeks back I did the HCG diet, but on a 800 calorie plan.. what I can tell you is.. 1-yes it works.. within a week I did lose 5.3 pounds.. 2- DONT do any sort of heavy exercise.. I was boxing at home..speed walking up hills on the treadmill for an hour 3-4 days a week.. and by the end of my 2nd week on it.. I wanted to die in a corner.

I hope you guys will find these helpful.

The fact that you can lose a significant amount of fat with HCG Injections in a short period of time, especially if you are very overweight and either suffering from, or at risk of serious health issues because of that extra weight, is truly a good thing. For instance, notice what is going on with your liver and gallbladder when you are gaining weight.

At the same time, losing so much fat so quickly appears to be a bit more of a strain on the body than just maintaining your weight- I read 2 articles that say pretty much the same thing, that the process involving breaking down your fat involves more work on the part of your adrenal glands. How Fat Cells Work and How Fat Cells Split Up.

For some of us who might either already be dealing with adrenal fatigue or are close to it because of health conditions were already dealing with, while losing fat is healthy of course, the process itself could prove to be a bit taxing for your body- which is why its great that this protocol is done only in 3 and 6 week rounds typically. Your body gets to have a break and stay in optimum working condition, or might even need a little healing down time.

The issue is, if you are one of those people who is in a state of more fragile health, the hCG protocol itself may be all that your body can really manage adding exercise to the mix may be too much.

When Im not on this weight loss protocol, my exercise in the form of Crossfit is truly beneficial for me- in ways even deeper than I can explain in this post. So you know that having this background now Im not partial to an excuse to be lazy or anything. You know I think exercise is extremely important.

Perhaps you are on of those people like me who has dealt with some chronic health issues in the past or has a very fragile system for one reason or another- lets talk about that.

Ive already kind of mentioned this, but if you have health complications, it may be all your body can handle to just do the diet itself. That is the experience I have had when Ive tried incorporating exercise into the weight loss protocol. I have tried what you might call low-key exercise in the form of taking longer walks, and Ive tried continuing my Crossfit program which is very high intensity on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in the past. The symptoms I had when trying this were:

Bad combo you guys! This weight loss protocol and P2 are not kind masters! Do you what you need to do to make this phase manageable!

Yes, here I am being dogmatic, because I truly believe in the importance of this to overall long term success. We ARE all different- youll be successful when you learn to work with your own unique body. So much of my life and efforts in life have been wasted by trying to make myself and my body do what worked for someone else, when I should have been working with how my own unique self operates best.

My feelings on exercise change a bit though once Phase 2 is over. I wrote quite a lengthy post a bit back about How To Maintain Weight Loss Long Term.

I hope youll read it because Ive really come to believe that exercise for many of us will be an important component to maintaining weight loss- not because of calories burned or anything like that though. Not at all.

More because of the healthy, proactive mental state exercise will keep us in. I find that is really keeps me in the right place mentally to stay focused and motivated on doing the right, healthy things for my body to keep it in its healthy state, without having to obsess over it.

This is a bit of a ramble, but perhaps youll find that it speaks to you in some way, and if thats the case, this post (and video) will be really worth it.

One of the reasons that I feel like I can so freely enjoy my body, make the right choices, etc. on a daily basis now, without it requiring a huge amount of effort or willpower, is that I found something to do in my life regularly that I really enjoy, that is active, and that makes me feel very good inside and out. For me that is Crossfit, but for you it might be something else- hiking, jogging, tennis, biking, zumba, whatever.

Thats why this protocol can be an exciting time, and a person might even start to crave getting back on the weight loss protocol, simply because something kind of dramatic is happening in their life when this protocol is going on.

I dont think there is anything wrong with wanting things to be happening in your life- to me this makes sense and its only natural.

Excited to be losing weight, but then bored when were done, so to find something to do, we start eating again, etc. We are meant to be in motion, so if dont create specific ways to move ahead and forward, well find ourselves moving back.

Over this past year, I feel that my relationship with my body and with food has drastically changed, and the exercise has really helped with that. I am no longer obsessed with food and how much or what kinds Im allowed to eat. Im no longer obsessed in a negative way with staying a certain size. I am serious about my maintaining my current body composition, but I dont get panicky over it- if I find myself getting a little off with my eating I feel like I now have the self control to make the needed adjustments to achieve what I want. If I wasnt attending crossfit, I really do not believe I would have this capability, and believe me a few chips would turn into the whole bag would turn into the whole bag every day. Im not joking- my current lifestyle has trained me and given me the self-control I need to make the right choices on a daily basis.

I used to be so paranoid about my body that even if I ate a large meal, I would be worried that my stomach had suddenly grown by 3 inches- it wasnt until I had woken up the next morning and my meal had fully digested that I would feel my anxiety lessen that I hadnt just totally gained weight. Its really humorous now looking back, but my feelings were quite real back then.

Later I swung the other way and became completely addicted to sugar- literally, a binge eating disorder. I could eat 3000 calories in the span of a half hour, all from cookies full of sugar. Addictions are a very yucky thing to have- when youre addicted to something this badly, it consumes a lot of your mental space and you find yourself very preoccupied with getting whatever it is youre addicted to, and until you do, youre not of much use to your family or friends. Aside from the distraction of the actual addiction itself, you are also consumed by all the guilty feelings that go with it- feeling guilt over craving something so unhealthy for you, feeling guilt over giving into those cravings, feeling guilt over how your addiction is badly affecting your family, feeling guilt over being overweight, feeling guilt over not being able to control yourself.

The answer for me was to cut sugar out of my diet completely, 100%, forever. It works. I dont think about sugar anymore. I dont crave it anymore. Its easy to eat right. I dont have to think about it. Its not a daily struggle. But what keeps me motivated and happy to continue living in this sugar-free state is my crossfit- its something positive, proactive that is gradually shaping my body and my strength in a beneficial way, instead of my previous addiction that was shaping me in a way that was harming me.

I hope one of you out there might find this of some use to you perhaps you have dealt with similar struggles. If so, please know you are NOT alone and you CAN overcome this. I will write a more in-depth post on sugar addiction later and how I got away from it.

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People go vegan for a variety of reasons, but from F.E.P.s perspective, the main reason to go vegan is compassion for animals. Animals are sentient beings: they are individuals who are uniquely aware of their own existence, who feel pain and pleasure, and who bond with others in systems of kinship that they value deeply and grieve for when they are lost.

Its clear that they suffer when they are confined, forcibly separated from their families, have their reproduction controlled, and are mutilated and killed in the routine practices of agriculture that involve animals (Food Empowerment Project explains in great detail the fate of various farm animals on our website see links under What happens to animals raised as commodities? below).

Veganism is also better for human workers and the world we live in. Jobs in slaughterhouses and dairy farms, for instance, consistently rank among the most dangerous in the U.S.: animals in fear or pain may try desperately to escape, injuring the workers in the process; animal agriculture industries are notorious for lax safety and health standards; and, of course, the standard tools of violence used in the industry carry their own risk to workers (see our pages on Slaughterhouse Workers* and Factory Farm Workers.*) The raising and slaughtering of animals is also catastrophically harmful to the environment (see our Pollution and Environmental Racism pages).

*Food Empowerment Project also readily acknowledges the abusive treatment of produce workers and advocates for them, as well.

How to go vegan

The basic idea of being vegan is to purchase and consume only items which are 100% plant-based and avoid all activities that support animal abuse and exploitation.

As a new vegan, the important thing is to make your best effort and to eliminate the obvious animal-derived ingredients from your shopping cart. Over time, you will become more comfortable with your lifestyle and gradually learn to eliminate the less obvious ingredients, as well.

Is a vegan diet healthy?

Yes, a vegan diet is healthy and appropriate for all kinds of people of various ages. In fact, It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. [1]

If you have more questions while transitioning to a vegan diet check out: Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet

What happens to animals raised as commodities?

Animals used for their reproductive secretions (dairy):

Animals used for their flesh (meat):

One final note: In the face of growing consumer awareness about the horrors of animal agriculture, these industries have increasingly tried to portray their treatment of animals as humane, using terms like free-range and cage-free, among others. These terms hide more than they reveal: theres nothing humane about these animals lives, or deaths.

Find out more in the Humane Myths section.

[1] Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19562864

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Veganism | Food Empowerment Project

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Cheap Lazy Vegan - YouTube

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Order Your FREE Vegan Starter Kit With Recipes And Tips From ...

1 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

We've embellished the humble carrot to mimic the smoky taste and snappy texture of a hot dog. To lend a dairy-free cheesy flavor to plant-based nacho sauce, we use nutritional yeast; look for it in health food stores or well-stocked specialty grocers. Our recipe saves 8g saturated fat over standard cheese dogs without losing any of the flavor.

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2 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

This soup just screams "summer" with its bright, refreshing flavor and cool temperature. You can make the soup a day ahead and keep it chilled; just give it a good whisk or another turn in the blender before serving.

3 of 80 Photo: Greg Dupree

Add fresh curry paste to canned coconut milk and nut butter, and you have an instant, wonderfully complex satay sauce. Use as a dip, in stir-fries, or drizzled on this gluten-free veggie bowl. If you dont have a spiralizer, you can use a julienne peeler or the shredding blade of your food processor. The sweet potato noodles will look like too much for the skillet but will shrink considerably as they cook. If using store-bought curry paste, start with 2 teaspoons, as it is much higher in sodium than fresh.

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4 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

This sorbet is refreshing with an almost creamy texture. The white balsamic vinegar is subtle, but it adds depth of flavor that enhances the melon.

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5 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

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6 of 80 Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House

If you don't have barley on hand, serve with brown rice, quinoa, or farro. You can also cook the tofu on a stovetop grill panjust be sure to turn your oven vent on high, as the honey-based glaze is sure to create some smoke.

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7 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

Luscious, velvety carrot soup gets its body from tahini, not yogurt or cream. Tahini's ability to stand in for dairy makes it a go-to for vegans and those who keep kosher. This sub keeps the soup in super-savory territory as well.

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8 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

This blend is a zippy alternative to hummus; serve with crudits or crackers. Sweet green peas offset the kicky heat of wasabi (which you'll find on the Asian foods aisle).

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9 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

We combine everything you love about Chinese takeoutthe sweet, savory, spicy sauce; the super-crispy tofu; and the crisp-tender, perfectly caramelized vegetablesinto one quick vegetarian main. Celery takes on a leading role rather than a base ingredient here: It maintains its crunch, adds a natural saltiness, and is a nice foil to the more robust flavors in the dish. Szechuan here refers to the stir-fry method rather than a tingling, chile-laden heat. If you want more spice, swap the crushed red pepper for one or two very thinly sliced Thai red chiles.

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10 of 80 Photo: Jamie Vespa

Finally, a brownie with benefits that you can feel good about eating. Our no-bake treats taste ultra decadent, yet are free of added sugar thanks to naturally sweet dates. Each vegan, gluten free brownie also boasts 6g fiber (about 25% of your daily recommended goal) and 6g of plant-powered protein. Enjoy them for dessert or as pre- or post-workout snack. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week, or in the freezer up to 1 month.

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11 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

Jackfruit is a nutrient-rich, tree-borne fruit that easily shreds to mimic the texture of pulled pork. It's gluten-free and a favorite ingredient for vegetarians. Look for young green jackfruit found canned at Asian supermarkets.

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12 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

The salsa verde that flavors the purslane would make a terrific table salsa; just leave out the leaves. While purslane's gently tart flavor and soft, slightly succulent texture makes it distinct, a mix of torn watercress, spinach, and chard in equal portions will give you a similar taste.

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13 of 80 Photo: Jamie Vespa

Everything there is to love about carrot cake made into 2-bite, no-bake truffles. Our plant-powered, vegan treats are brimming with heart-healthy omega-3 fats, and free of added sugar thanks to naturally sweet dates. Use the smallest setting of your box grater or food processor's grating attachment to grate the carrots into fine, fluffy pieces. Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg compose the heady spice trinity, so dont be shy about adding extra, if you like. Enjoy these truffles for a snack or dessert, or share them with family and friends for easy Easter entertaining.

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Crispy, spicy, and totally plant-based, these vegan taquitos make the ultimate party finger food. Shredded jackfruit mimics the texture of cooked chicken, while being doused in a tangy chipotle-infused sauce. These easy snacks are baked, not fried, to keep the calories low still creating that irresistibly crunchy texture. Serve with homemade guacamole on the side to cool down the peppery bite.

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15 of 80 Photo: Jamie Vespa

The beauty of seasonal produce comes to life in this bright spring salad. A simple trip to your farmers market should cover all the basics, but feel free to add or remove any ingredients you prefer. Radishes are a great use-it-all veggie, making them a highly economical buy. Instead of chopping off the greens and trashing them, rinse them clean and toss them in salads and stir-fries. They lend a peppery taste that adds savory depth to an array of spring dishes. If youre craving an extra boost of protein, add shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled shrimp on top.

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16 of 80

Nothing says comfort quite like potpie. Traditionally made with chicken, we put a plant-based spin on this cozy casserole by substituting shredded jackfruit and using vegan-friendly puff pastry. With rich flavor thanks to the sauted onions and combination of herbs, this is a vegan main dish that will fool even the most committed meat-eaters. Serve with a side salad or steamed veggies to complete the meal.

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17 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

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18 of 80 Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

We change up the classic oat and nut combo with coconut flakes and starchy buckwheat groats. Look for pale-green groats; the toasted, dark-brown buckwheat can have a bitter flavor. You can also skip the buckwheat and add another 1/2 cup rolled oats.

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19 of 80 Photo: Greg Dupree

This super-chocolaty smoothie is a tasty nondairy option. Dates offer richness and a caramel-like sweetness--naturally--while boosting fiber by about 2g.

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20 of 80 Photo: Alison Miksch

We take a shortcut to the rich, deep flavor of slow-simmered beans by starting with a quick sofrito--aromatics sauted until tender with tomato and vinegar--and adding canned pinto beans. The result is better than any seasoned bean you'll find in a can.

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21 of 80 Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

The best way to cook steel-cut oats during the week? Don't cook them at all. Soak the oats overnight in your milk of choice: The oats will soften and plump in the liquid but remain slightly chewy. Enjoy cold, or heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Cocoa nibs add a little extra crunch and a wake-up jolt similar to coffee.

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22 of 80 Photo: Colin Price

Homemade dressing comes together in minutes and is far healthier, cheaper, and fresher than bottled dressings with added sugars, chemicals, and fillers. Prep ahead and store in a covered jar or container in the refrigerator. If you're cooking for more than one, feel free to double or triple the dressing.

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23 of 80 Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

These two-bite treats taste rich and indulgent, with absolutely no added sugar. Each also contains 3g fiber and 3g protein. We find one to be satisfying, but don't feel bad about eating twothat's only 222 calories. Store chilled in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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24 of 80 Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Lindsey Lower

It may seem too good to be true, but its not: This impressive, full plate requires only 5 ingredients (water, oil, salt, and pepper are considered freebies). Microwaved sweet potatoes are sliced into medallions, brushed with oil, and lightly seared so they become satisfyingly steak-like. The creamy, nutty sauce adds richness, and the lemon-dressed arugula-chickpea salad bulks up the plate beautifully. In place of almond butter, you could substitute any nut butter you likepeanut, cashew, or sunflower butter would be delicious. And if canned chickpeas arent in your pantry, you can use another mild legume; try cannellini or navy beans.

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25 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

If any one dish is devoured quickly and constantly (usually by the fistful) throughout the holiday, its snack mix. Consisting of salty nuts, pretzels, and cereal doused with a Worcestershire and butter, this innocent munchie racks up sodium and calories quickly. Our healthier version gives you all the salt, crunch, and bold spices of the original with the addition of whole-grain popcorn, toasty whole-wheat cereal, and spicy wasabi peas. The peas inspired an Asian track with toasty sesame oil and reduced-sodium soy sauce, cashews, and pungent ground ginger.

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26 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

Soba noodles are made of buckwheat flour and have a toasty, nutty flavor. You can sub whole-wheat linguine if you can't find them.

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27 of 80 Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

This brittle is sweet and mildly bitter all at onceowing to the caramel flavor of the cooked sugar. We added everything youd find on the iconic bagel of the same name except garlic and onion flakes for a nutty-savory-sweet treat. Brittle is very susceptible to moisture, so wrap it up in parchment paper and pack into an airtight container. Store the container in a cool, dry place. This is a decidedly grown-up sweet treat, but you can make it kid-friendly by omitting the poppy seeds and black sesame seeds and stirring in a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

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28 of 80

Everyone enjoys a steaming bowl of soup to warm up their body and spirits when they're under the weather. Now vegans and vegetarians don't have to miss out on this comfort. Our plant-based spin on chicken noodle features jackfruit, which perfectly mimics shredded chicken, and a combination of herbs that will hit you with a nostalgic taste. Feel free to substitute other pasta shapes (alphabet soup, anyone?) or other seasonal veggies you have on hand.

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29 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

This salad is a beautiful addition to any table spread with its vibrant orange and deep magenta hues. Hearty radicchio and fennel have real staying powereven after they've been tossed with dressingwhich makes this ideal for times when you need a make-ahead salad for a buffet or to take to a potluck. We love the color of blood oranges, but you can use all naval or Cara Cara oranges.

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30 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

You get deep umami richness from mushrooms and soy sauceno need for any meat drippings or poultry/meat stock. Cremini mushrooms have a deeper flavor than button mushrooms, but you can use those in a pinch. For even deeper, more savory flavor, replace half of the cremini with shiitake mushrooms.Thyme and mushrooms are a match made in heaven. If you dont have fresh thyme, you can use 1/2 tsp. dried thyme. Make ahead: You can store in the fridge a couple of days in advance of when you need it, but we wouldnt recommend freezing.

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31 of 80 Photo: Greg Dupree

If you look up a recipe for DIY smokehouse nuts, you'll find that a good chunk of them involve dousing nuts with liquid smoke and baking them in the oven. Our method gives you real woodsmoke flavor instead. Settle in: It takes about 45 minutes for smoky flavor to infuse the firm, dense nutsbut patience gives a bacon(ish)-flavored reward. Your outdoor grill or smoker takes care of the heavy lifting; all you have to do is prepare the wood as specified for your smoker (try hickory or mesquite) and position the nuts over an area with indirect heat. You can give them a stir once or twice, but it's not necessary. For the best flavor and texture, let them cool completely before eating.

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32 of 80 Photo: Jennifer Causey

To really jazz up your healthy holiday spread, bring a whole roasted cauliflower to the table, and then "carve" and dress it with a light vinaigrette, pomegranate arils, pine nuts, and parsley. Pomegranate adds a refreshing dose of natural sweetness for minimal added sugar.

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33 of 80 Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Make a big perfect pot of lentils to start your week off on the right food. You can add them to salads orserve them as sides.Start tasting for doneness at the 28-minute mark. They'll continue to soften as they sit, so be sure to stop the cooking process before they turn to mush. Red and yellow lentils do not work well here, as they tend to cook much faster and will fall apart. You want to maintain a bit of a bite, making these lentils better candidates for salads, soups, and stews.

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34 of 80

Enjoy tacos while also keeping your weeknight dinner fast, easy, and mess-free. All you need is a sheet pan, food processor, and bowl for this vegan recipe. Richly spiced chipotle tofu gets delectably chewy while brightly colored veggies sear for a flavorful taco filling that is sure to be a new member of your weekly recipe rotation.

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35 of 80 Photo: Iain Bagwell

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Vegan Recipes - Cooking Light

Year End Retreat - Vajrasattva Practice December 26-30, 2017

Drepung Loseling Monastery is delighted to offer this Year-End Retreat on the Vajrasattva meditation and recitation of the 100-syllable mantra. This powerful practice is especially appropriate to our present times, and is an auspicious way to prepare for the new year.For details click here.

Geshe Ngawang Phende will lead the Foundation Series begining with an introduction to Buddhism and continuing with retreats on the four universal Buddhist meditation practices. For details click here.

Geshe Dadul Namgyal will lead this Intermediate Series beginning with an introduction to Mahayana Buddhism, the foundation for the generation of universal compassion and continue with more advanced topics.For details click here.

Help Us Build the new Drepung Loseling Center for Science & Meditation in India

Senior Monk Care Fund Drepung Loseling Monastery Mungod, India

Building a Community of Compassion: A Space for Meditation Thursdays 6-7 pm

To fulfill our vision of preserving Tibet's unique culture and sharing Tibet's spiritual traditions in North America, we have started creating our Little Tibet in Atlanta but we still need your support to finish building our dream. Click here to find out more about our plans and how you can help or to become a Building Fund Sponsor.

Hi-def videos from all the programs of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Emory University for "The Visit: 2013" are available for viewing on YouTube. Choose from the Full Program or Highlights. Click here for videos

Previous VisitsVisit 2010: click hereVisit 2007: click here

The Loseling Gallery is now home to over 200 handcrafted dolls depicting the culture and tradition of Tibet. These handcrafted, mini-masterpieces celebrate the distinct and diverse cultural identity of Tibetans as manifested in an astonishing variety of secular and religious dress. For details click here.

This altar is one of the few traditionally hand-carved Tibetan Buddhist altars of this magnitude, intricacy and beauty seen in North America.For details click here

Six Tibetan Buddhist monks are studying science at Emory University. It's part of the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative, which is infusing science into monastic education. Take a look inside the life of a Tibetan monk while he's in college.Click here to watch the video

The International Conference on Tibetan Buddhism was held at the Emory Conference Center Hotel from October 18-20, 2010, in conjunction with the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Emory University. This conference was co-sponsored by the Office of Tibet, New York, & Emory University, with support from the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture in Washington, DC, and Drepung Loseling Monastery, Inc., in Atlanta, GA. To watch video footage of events, please click here.

Join us on Facebook and keep abreast of daily news tidbits and interesting articles not otherwise announced in our weekly newsletter. Please visit the following link to become a fan (note: you must be an existing member of Facebook to add the page) Drepung Loseling Facebook Fan Page.

Originally posted here:
Drepung Loseling Monastery, Inc. Center for Tibetan Buddhist ...

Enlightenment was launched in the 1990s by Carsten "Rasterman" Haitzler as an easy to use Window Manager (WM) for X11. Since then it has expanded to include the one million lines of C code that form the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL) and a diverse set of applications. There's a vibrant and active community of developers and users who work on and use the code every day.

Enlightenment is classed as a "desktop shell" as it provides everything you need to operate your desktop or laptop, but it is not a full application suite. This covers functionality including launching applications, managing their windows and performing system tasks like suspending, rebooting, managing files and so on.

The Enlightenment Project is moving towards using Wayland as the base display system, while Enlightenment itself is to become a full Wayland compositor in its own right. This takes time, and there have been some bumps along the road, but the goal is that support for X11 will be eventually be discontinued.

Enlightenment is built on top of the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL), using the libraries written for the user interface as well as those for the Compositor itself. This means that any improvements made to EFL are included in the Enlightenment Compositor.

Enlightenment also serves the Window Manager and Compositor for Tizen, due in no small part to its efficiency and breadth of features.

See About Enlightenment for more details.

Enlightenment is primarily developed on the GNU/Linux platform. This means that most GNU/Linux distributions, including platforms like Tizen, should work with Enlightenment straight out of the box. There are also efforts to ensure Enlightenment can run on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS, though these are at varying stages of completion.

For details on Enlightenment's Windows support see the Windows development page, while Win-Builds ships with EFL for Windows. For information on Enlightenment's macOS support see the OS X Start page.

The Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL) drive Enlightenment, but they can also be used independently or built on top of one other to provide useful features and create powerful applications.

The core EFL libraries are much more efficient in both speed and size than their GTK+ and Qt equivalents, and have a smaller memory footprint.

EFL covers a wide range of functions including inter-process communication (IPC), graphics, audio and even location services. Other powerful features include file handling utilities, widgets and user interface controls, thumbnailing and rendering via scene graph. You can discover more of EFL's capabilities by visiting the About EFL page.

The Enlightenment Foundation Libraries already power millions of systems from mobile phones to set-top boxes, desktops, laptops, game systems and more. It is recognized for its forward-thinking approach which allows product designers and developers to offer more than the boring user experience of the past. This is where EFL excels.

Free.fr has shipped millions of set top boxes in France powered by EFL. The Openmoko Freerunner project also sold thousands of devices using EFL and Enlightenment.

EFL powers Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatches and is behind Samsung Smart Televisions such as the Class Q9F QLED 4K TV and refrigerators such as the Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator, which are based on Tizen. GPS devices such as the Coyote also run EFL.

The Enlightenment Project is also responsible for a range of applications written using EFL. Aside from being very useful programs in their own right these serve as great examples of what EFL can do for you.

Terminology is a terminal emulator bristling with advanced features including: tabs, splits, 256-color support, wallpapers (even animated ones), in-line display of media (click on a file path to a video and watch it play), link detection, compressed scrollback stored in RAM, translucency and a gorgeous look and feel inspired by classic CRT monitors.

See the Terminology page for more details.

Designed to be a clean and simple media player, like MPlayer, Rage focuses on video by not filling your window with unnecessary controls and menu bars. These are instead displayed with a simple mouse over, which also displays thumbnails of a video's timeline.

Rage also has a live playlist which will show all currently playing videos. It offers full keyboard and mouse controls as well as supporting Drag and Drop to add more files to your playlist. Use the audio-only mode to grab album cover images and cache them.

See the Rage page for more details.

Ephoto is an image viewer and editor written with a focus on simplicity and ease of use while taking full advantage of EFL's speed and tiny memory footprint. Browse images via thumbnail, single view with editing features, or display a moving slideshow. There are neat filters to try, from Gaussian blurs to intricate sketches. Ephoto is extremely versatile, in that it can act as both a simple viewer and an advanced image editor.

See the Ephoto page for more details.

EDI is a development environment designed for and built using EFL. Its aim is to offer a new, native development environment for Linux which makes getting up and running easier than ever before. With so much happening on Linux, both on the desktop and on mobile, EDI helps more developers get involved in the exciting future of open source development.

See the EDI page for more details.

Read more from the original source:
About Enlightenment